Love a stylish stay but travelling on a budget? Hotel prices have exploded since the post-Covid travel boom. Luckily, there’s more choice in Athens than ever before, and there are plenty of affordable central stays which don’t compromise on design. The city has been renovating at pace. Here are my favourite budget-friendly hotels with a bit of a bougie vibe.
The Criteria
I travel to Athens frequently (and lived there for a little while back in 2015), so I like to keep up with hotel openings. All of these hotels are roughly in the €100-250 per night price range, depending on the time of year. Some are even a smidge cheaper in low/shoulder season.
This is what I look for in a hotel:
- comfortable bed
- appealing design, clean and modern
- good breakfast
- decent check-in times
- easy to find (close to metro)
- central location, no dodgy neighbourhoods
- not too noisy (this is hard to escape in some areas, especially in converted old buildings)
18 Best Bougie-on-a-Budget Hotels in Athens
| Hotel | Location | Acropolis View | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acropolis Vision | Thisio | Y | Cosy, simple, roof terrace with Acropolis views |
| Altar Suites | Monastiraki | Y | Minimalist, restaurant, some rooms have Acropolis view |
| Apollo Palm | Psyrri | Y | Stylish, buzzy, Acropolis views from rooftop and some rooms |
| Asomaton | Psyrri | Y | Aesthetic, indoor pool |
| Astikon House | Syntagma | Y | Stylish, modern |
| Athens4 | Psyrri | N | Modern city vibes, range of rooms including family suites and hot tubs |
| City Circus | Psyrri | Y | Flashpacker hostel with private rooms, a wine bar, very comfortable beds |
| CocoMat Jumelle | Kolonaki | N | Stylish and comfortable (brand is renowned for its mattresses), indoor pool and spa |
| Dwell | Syntagma | N | Compact and colourful |
| The Editor | Psyrri | N | Great value, modern and airy |
| InnAthens | Syntagma | N | Great breakfast and comfortable beds, leafy courtyard, excellent wine bar next door |
| The Lekka | Syntagma | Y | Rooftop bar, sauna and jacuzzi, boho minimalist vibes |
| L'Avventura | Psyrri | Y | Panoramic dining, very central, some rooms can be a bit noisy |
| MiraMe | Monastiraki | Y | Beautiful renovation, can be a bit noisy, breakfast hit or miss |
| Monsieur Didot | Kolonaki | N | Established design hotel, excellent value |
| Philia | Psyrri | N | Comfortable, neoclassical vibes |
| Okupa | Psyrri | Y | Self-styled urban hub, rooftop pool, dorms available |
| Vasi | Psyrri | Y | Stylish, modern, some rooms have Acropolis view |
The one I’d book for myself? Asomaton. The one I’d book for my parents? Acropolis Vision.
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Which neighbourhood to choose?
All of the hotels I’ve listed above are in the centre of Athens and within walking distance of the main historic sites and each other for a person of moderate fitness. Unless you’re getting off the beaten track, you’ll only need to take public transport to get to/from the port and airport. The only one that’s a bit further afield is Monsieur Didot in Kolonaki, I’ve included it because it’s a great hotel in what’s probably the most bougie neighbourhood so for some it will be worth the extra walk.
- Plaka – The pretty old part of town, not too many hotels because the buildings aren’t suitable. Heaving with souvenir shops. Some nice places to stay on the Koukaki side.
- Syntagma – The main commercial and business district. On the face of it, this doesn’t sound too appealing but what I love about Syntagma is the feeling of everyone going about their daily business. The side streets are ripe with new hotels and cracking wine bars. And Syntagma station is the city’s main transport interchange so it’s easy to get around.
- Psyrri – Buzzy creative vibe, heavily gentrified during the Olympics. Lots of easy-going bars and cafes. Some noise from bars in the streets around Plateia Iroon at night. Just FYI there’s a lot of street art, graffiti, and abandoned buildings that are slowly being brought back to life. It’s fine but if you’re easily jumpy at night I’d pick one somewhere more genteel.
- Kolonaki – The posh neighbourhood, good for mooching around cafes, bookstores, and designer shops. Close to Syntagma, Parliament, Lycabettus Hill, and the big museums, but a bit more walking (around 30 minutes) to the Acropolis.
- Thisio – The quiet side of the Acropolis Hill. It has somehow escaped the Airbnb onslaught despite being really close to metro links and the Acropolis. Not too many hotels so it has a more residential feel. I like it around here. Make sure to go up to the Observatory for views. Book quickly if it appeals to you.
- Acropolis/Koukaki – There aren’t any hotels here in my list, but this area is the other side of the Acropolis Hill from Psyrri. It’s become a popular Airbnb neighbourhood and there are plenty hotels here, but the main streets can be prone to traffic noise.
Where not to stay?
- I don’t recommend Omonia for first-time visitors, nor Exarchia, Metaxourgeio, or the area around Panepistimio station. Not because they’re terrible, but they can feel a bit sketchy (visible drug taking and prostitution rather than violent crime) there are so many nicer places for tourists to stay in the city. Mid-range hotels are popping up all around Omonia as big brands like Moxy and Brown take a long-term punt on the area but it’s not quite there yet.
- The area in the north of Psyrri around the Central Food Market (including all the streets north of Evripidou at the Omonia end of Psyri) has an increasing number of hotels but personally it can feel a bit testosterone-heavy. I have some female friends who have felt uncomfortable around here. It’s not the worst but wouldn’t be my first choice.
General Tips
On a smaller budget, keep an eye out for serviced suites and 2-3 star hotels that have had a recent makeover. These are likely to have comfortable beds, pleasing design, and a good location, but might not necessarily have hotel-style facilities and service e.g. common areas, 24-hr reception, concierge, breakfast area. Some suites will bring breakfast to your room, others have a dining area. Most hotels in the city have a rooftop with Acropolis views but don’t assume all the rooms do.
If you’re travelling in the winter you can find some absolute steals, so it’s also worth broadening your search to include higher-end boutique hotels which might otherwise be out of your budget. May can be surprisingly pricey, and if you can book in advance then August isn’t any more expensive than the other summer months – perhaps because locals tend to flee the city for the coast.
If you’re travelling at a busy time of year (Easter, end of July/August) and the budget is tight, or you’re in town for more than a few days, that’s when you might want to extend your search to neighbourhoods outside the city centre.
Some ideas for things to do on a bougie city break in Athens
Athens is still one of my favourite cities in the world, it’s a great place to just wander and eat/drink. I recommend making the most of the views in the city – there are numerous hills, and nearly every building seems to have a rooftop bar these days. Here are some of my favourite things to do in Athens beyond the Acropolis:
- A is for Athens: Popping up to the rooftop for a coffee and to photograph the Acropolis view is practically a tourist rite of passage, but don’t sleep on the cocktails either.
- Rooftop pool: The most aesthetic pool in the city is Alexandros Hotel Mavili Beach is built to resemble a sandy island beach – book in for lunch.
- Beach club: For an easy day and the beach and tiki-style vibes, hop on the coastal tram at Syntagma, get off at Kalamaki and it’s a short walk to Bolivar (pictured above).
- Ergon House: Swanky delightful food shopping based on a modern-day agora concept. Another place for rooftop cocktails.
- The Naxos Apothecary: beautiful botanical fragrances to take home.
- Philos. I love the space at this boutique hotel but prices are usually beyond me, so brunch at the cafe it is.
- Okupa: Currently doing Sunday jazz brunches (sometimes they do this at Zampano/City Circus too).
- Museum of Cycladic Art: The most deliciously minimalist of the main museums.
- Benaki Museum: One of the main cultural museums in the city. I especially love the floor that houses all the traditional clothing.
- Cine Paris: The beloved outdoors cinema in Plaka has reopened after renovations. Catch a movie underneath the Acropolis, you can’t beat it.
- Meniskleous Street: Still the most picturesque spot for pre-dinner drinks, especially after a wander around Anafiotika (if you can find it).
- Visit the Islands: The 3 Island Cruise is eternally popular with tourists, but you’d rather escape the crowds there are yacht and catamaran trips out of Alimos and Flisvos marinas – like this sunset cruise. Or just take the hydrofoil to Hydra, a picture-perfect island with no cars (check the weather first because it isn’t a fun trip in rough seas).
- The food scene changes at a bewildering pace these days, with new spots popping up all the time. I can’t keep up – so recommend following @athen_food_explorer on IG for restaurant recommendations.
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Read more about Athens:
15 Classic Things to Do Athens
Image credits:
All photos © The Mediterranean Traveller